National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2025
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (15 Sep 2026): Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
What this bill does
H.R. 2406 would strengthen existing federal law governing how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) prevents and responds to sexual harassment and sexual assault. It expands NOAA's existing policies and annual reporting requirements to also cover equal employment issues, requiring more detailed data such as case synopses, disciplinary actions taken, and statistics on transfer requests and cases referred to the Coast Guard. The bill creates new provisions addressing victim anonymity, sets a three-year deadline for updating confidential ("restricted") reporting procedures, and establishes mandatory reporting requirements for vessel operators when incidents involve mariners with required credentials. It also removes the word "forcibly" and the phrase "on a vessel" from an existing prohibited-acts provision in fisheries law, broadening its scope, and bars individuals convicted of certain sexual offenses from serving in NOAA's commissioned officer corps.
The bill primarily affects NOAA employees, commissioned officers, and "covered personnel," a category explicitly including fisheries and protected-species observers, at-sea and catch monitors, and members and staff of Regional Fishery Management Councils. It also affects vessel operators under contract with NOAA, who would face new mandatory reporting duties to the Coast Guard, and individuals with sexual-offense convictions, who would be barred from officer service.
The bill passed the House on September 14, 2026, by voice vote under a suspension-of-the-rules motion, indicating broad, non-controversial support. It now goes to the Senate for consideration; no further action has yet occurred there.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2025
This bill expands requirements for addressing sexual harassment and sexual assault involving personnel of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The bill specifies that NOAA's sexual harassment prevention and response policy applies to personnel such as observers, at-sea monitors, and voting members and staff of regional fishery management councils.
The bill removes the requirement that certain acts, such as assault, intimidation, and sexual harassment of an observer or a data collector, be forcible in nature to be unlawful.
The bill also requires NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations to establish a policy for reporting to the Coast Guard the names of NOAA personnel involved in a sexual harassment or sexual assault claim. Specifically, such reports must identify employees or contractors who are the subject of such claim, the time and date of the incident, and the location of the vessel when the incident occurred.
The bill prohibits a person convicted of certain sexual offenses from enlisting with or being commissioned by NOAA.
Additionally, the bill directs NOAA to update its policies to develop a restricted reporting system that allows employees and other personnel to confidentially report sexual harassment or assault and receive services without triggering an investigation.
Finally, the bill also expands reporting requirements on sexual harassment, sexual assault, and equal employment.
Timeline
15 Sep 2026
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 2406 do?
- H.R. 2406 would strengthen existing federal law governing how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) prevents and responds to sexual harassment and sexual assault. It expands NOAA's existing policies and annual reporting requirements to also cover equal employment issues, requiring more detailed data such as case synopses, disciplinary actions taken, and statistics on transfer requests and cases referred to the Coast Guard. The bill creates new provisions addressing victim anonymity, sets a three-year deadline for updating confidential ("restricted") reporting procedures, and establishes mandatory reporting requirements for vessel operators when incidents involve mariners with required credentials. It also removes the word "forcibly" and the phrase "on a vessel" from an existing prohibited-acts provision in fisheries law, broadening its scope, and bars individuals convicted of certain sexual offenses from serving in NOAA's commissioned officer corps. The bill primarily affects NOAA employees, commissioned officers, and "covered personnel," a category explicitly including fisheries and protected-species observers, at-sea and catch monitors, and members and staff of Regional Fishery Management Councils. It also affects vessel operators under contract with NOAA, who would face new mandatory reporting duties to the Coast Guard, and individuals with sexual-offense convictions, who would be barred from officer service. The bill passed the House on September 14, 2026, by voice vote under a suspension-of-the-rules motion, indicating broad, non-controversial support. It now goes to the Senate for consideration; no further action has yet occurred there.
- Has H.R. 2406 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for H.R. 2406. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored H.R. 2406?
- H.R. 2406 was sponsored by Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] (D-OR), with 3 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 2406?
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (15 Sep 2026).
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